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No. 6","9. Patented Sept. 20, I898. w. H. HALL.

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(Application filed Jan. 29, 1898.) (No Model.)

lNVENTORf IIZ'l/z'amfi. Hall.

ATTORNEYS- 'mzuoanys PETERS c0., PHOTOJJTNO WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

WILLIAM H. HALL, OF NEVTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN TOZER, OF SAME PLACE.

LACER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 611,119, dated September 20, 1 898- Application filed January 29,1898. Serial No. 668,429. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Sussex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lacers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide new and improved means for fastening laceshoes while in process of making.

If lace-shoes are passed through the bottoming-room without any fastenings,thedraft of the upper is apt to be destroyed and a poor-fitting shoe to result. Moreover, tedious methods for securing the upper in its position on the last during the process of making are to be avoided as delaying work. By means of the lacer or device herein described the upper can be drawn tight to its position on the instep and held securely till the lasts are drawn after the shoe is finished, thus insuring the original draft and proper outline of the upper.

The lacer is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is an edge view of the lacer in use. Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1 enlarged. Fig. 3 is a detail View.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein the numeral 1 indicates the base or main body of the fastener, having near each end portion a spirally-coiled elastic lace-grip 2, the extremities of which are secured to the base or main body 1, with the coiled lace-grippin g part between the attached ends. The coiled lace-grips are in the nature of coiled springs, and the lace 3 when inserted between the coils of the grips is firmly clamped and held thereby.

In Fig. 2 the body is shown perforated or provided with suitably-arranged eyes or holes at for the engagement or attachment of the lace to such body. The lace can be passed through or placed in eyes or holes 4, as seen. The body 1 is made separate from or 'independent of the shoe, so that the device can be successively applied to various shoes, as required. The body 1 with its attached lace 3 being placed on a shoe and the ends of the lace being passed through holes or eyelets in the shoe and fastened or held by the attachments 2f'after such lace has been drawn taut, the shoe is held closed or tightly drawn. The fastenings 2 are shown properly spaced or located at opposite end portions of I, the body to allow the lace to run from the shoe-eyelets to the fasteners 2 without tendency to wrinkle or draw the shoe out of shape or line. The holes or eyelets 4 of body 1 are likewise suitably spaced or located.

Each such lacer or device can be used successively on various shoes as the shoes pass through the manufacture, and such devices can be provided at low cost. The instructions for use might practically be worded as follows:

First Zasting.-lnsert the lace through the first and fourth eyelets for childrens shoes and the second and fifth eyelets for larger sizes. Then return the lace to the body and secure the lace by the fastenings.

Second lasting-insert the lace through both quarters, the center of the body of the lacer or device resting on the instep. Then draw theupper tightly to its position on the last without touching the fastener. When the upper is drawn as tight as the pattern calls for, secure the lace, asby slipping it under the fastener.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A lacer for fastening lace-shoes during their process of manufacture, consisting of a base or body portion having eyes or holes for the passage of the lace and provided near each end with a spirally-coiled elastic lace-grip secured to the base or body portion and serving to clamp or grip the lace when inserted between the elastic coils thereof, and the lace passed through the eyes or holes of the base or body portion, and subsequently inserted between the lace-grips, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. HALL. Witnesses:

GEO. L. DUTCHER, J. E. WARBASSE. 

